The Botanical Garden of the University of Catania came about after a new professor of the faculty, Francesco Tornabene Roccaforte lobbied for such a garden in 1843. This was after many years from 1788 of the university having to use small private gardens to enable them to teach. The official opening ceremony took place in 1858, while the first trees were planted in 1862. The structure was enlarged in 1865 and a new surface area was used for the native species of Sicily. The gardens were partly destroyed during WWII, but have gradually been restored over the years.
